During yesterday’s cruise on Heliotrope the strap attaching the head of the genoa to the halyard furling drum parted. A gust of wind, a bang, and then the big sail dropped about a foot. We furled immediately so no further damage done to the sail, and we were able to reach, reefed, back to the marina, so no problem.
This morning the sail came off but the halyard furling drum remained stuck at the masthead. Sue volunteered to ride the bosun’s chair up the mast, but after a few feet of winching I came to my senses and belayed that plan.
We left word with warfinger Jim that we were looking to hire an agile, smallish person with no fear of heights.
Later in the afternoon, Jim called to let us know that another boater in the marina had volunteered two recently purchased 15 foot extension poles—and they, when taped to our boat hook, were able to reach high enough.
So the halyard is retrieved, the sail is being repaired, and very soon the genoa will be back up where it belongs.
Back home we went for a row and observed what looked like a yawl very slowing drifting across the bay in a flat calm, apparently heading for the marina.
After dinner we will check it out.

Update: not a yawl—rather a ketch, and a big, beautiful one at that. Anchored out, so no chat.